3 Dishes

I listen to many hours of podcasts while I endure my exercise routine in the morning. I enjoy podcasts covering everything from murders in National Parks to the history of Oreo and Hydrox cookies. My favorite podcasts often deal with food related topics. The host of one food podcast often asks her guests to chose five dishes that describe their food journey in life. The responses are not particularly profound but they are always very personal. Here is my list of dishes that represent the underpinnings of my food pathway. For the sake of brevity, I chose three and it certainly was not an easy task due to my fascination with all things food. 

1) Comfort casserole--I have referred to this dish before in my blogging posts and it still remains a part of my food heritage. The ingredients are simply ground beef, carrots, potatoes and a can of tomato soup. Variations could be a few peas or corn tossed in as well. My mom often served this casserole for our Sunday meal after church. It was something she could prepare the night before and put into the oven on a timed baked setting Sunday morning. The warm and hearty meal would be ready for nine starving family members after we changed from our church clothes to our everyday clothes. Casseroles continue to be a part of my food repertoire, especially when I was teaching full time. I have not changed the ingredients of the comfort casserole other than adding a little dash of chipotle powder for a bit of smoky heat. Casseroles always equal comfort in my book.

2) Mini frozen cooked shrimp--Full disclosure that I have not purchased this product in over twenty years but I can identify it as part of my food history. In the small town where my husband and I lived when we were first married, the only grocery store in town had a limited inventory. In an attempt to put together a snack tray with something different than carrot and celery sticks I found the little bags of frozen shrimp were available and easy to add to the tray. I often got questions from the local store clerk as to how I was using the shrimp. Saltwater seafood was exotic in our little town. Now I have access to a dizzying array of choices for snack trays, especially with the popularity of charcuterie boards. I may not be using the little shrimpies any more but I still love to try new things for my snack trays. 

3) Lamb--Despite the fact that my state is listed as a robust producer of sheep, I never tasted lamb until well into adulthood. My family raised chickens, hogs and cattle so our dining table featured those meats. My first bite of lamb happened at a restaurant where a family friend was the manager and recommended the lamb on the menu. I was immediately hooked and since then lamb is a part of my meal rotation. We love marinated lamb chops on the grill, lamb burgers with tzatziki sauce and of course, slow braised lamb stew. It may not be the protein of my youth but it certainly has a place on my dinner table now. 

I am looking forward to many new foods, yet to be explored. But, I will always appreciate the culinary path taken along the way. 

Here is your homework assignment for the week: Identify three dishes that represent your food pathway. You all have an A+ in advance from me! 

The Cucumber

My husband is one of the fortunate ones to be eligible for an immunization as protection from the evil monster that lives among us. As we drove to the skin piercing site I had a mix of emotions ranging from elation to trepidation to relief to pure awe at the wonders of science. Not surprisingly, the site was buzzing with activity with lots of folks coming and going from the building. We found a parking spot and he entered the building while I waited in our vehicle. He texted me when the shot was complete and he was seated in the waiting area with a sticker to let him know when his required 15 minutes of observation was finished. 

Shortly after his text, I heard a wail of sirens and I hoped the noise would soon fade into the distance. Not to be. An ambulance roared into our parking lot and a nurse standing by the entrance was waving it down. Soon a fire and rescue vehicle came blaring in the lot with a police car following close behind. The entry ramp is now lined with people trying to maintain a social distance protocol while the ambulance personnel prepare to enter the building.

Meanwhile I am frantically texting my husband to see if he is all right. A little back story before I continue. My husband struggled a little with the authorization form. One question asked about serious reactions to food or bees. Technically he is supposed to carry an Epi-pen due to an incident with an outraged rogue wasp that flew into his pickup while he was driving home one day. The wasp took a dive for his temple and a little while later we were in acute care. He has always felt this was a one-off incident and was unwilling to say that his reaction was serious. And he didn't want to wait in the observation area at the immunization clinic for 30 minutes rather than 15 so he checked no on the bee sting question.

Of course, my mind is going wild as I see the ambulance arrive and I immediately texted him, asking if he was okay. For whatever reason, he decided to respond in a way that could be interpreted as masking a serious issue. My imagination needs little goading and we are not in the habit of texting cutesie things to each other so I am now craning my neck to see who is being carried out on the gurney. 

Just when I was ready to head toward the action, I saw my husband nonchalantly walking out of the building. He walked past all the action with nary a second glance. When I asked him what happened he calmly said some lady was passed out in the entryway. He said he just stepped around her and made his way out. He hadn't heard the sirens or seen anything out of the ordinary prior to exiting the building so my texts had fallen upon less frantic ears.

For a brief moment I felt I might need to ask the ambulance for a two-for-one special as I took some deep breaths and tried to calm myself. In true cucumber style, my husband patiently listened to my woes and then started the vehicle. Enough drama for one day. Here's hoping round two is a little less exciting.